She waved her hand to Kyrle, whose gondola was just drawing to the steps of the hotel. A moment later he was in the apartment and ready to second her proposal with all the eloquence that love could inspire. But even his eloquence might not have moved Aimée if she had not felt that he was right; that she was merely on the threshold of a struggle in which she might be worsted, since her opponents would be absolutely unscrupulous in the use of means. But Fanny and Lennox appreciated this, and both were earnest in urging her to take now a step which must be taken sooner or later.
But she was still undecided, when an unexpected ally to the attacking force appeared on the scene. Mr. Meredith came in, and when he heard of the plan of the Joscelyns his honest wrath was stirred. “What! they propose to leave to-morrow, and carry you away with them?” he said. “Then there is one simple thing to be done: I shall go at once and engage your passage with us on the Trieste boat which leaves to-night.”
Aimée rose and went up to him. The opinions of the others had not moved her as much as might have been expected. Fanny, she knew, was always inimical to the Joscelyns, and for Fanny’s judgment she had not great respect, while Lennox labored under the disadvantage of being a lover who appealed to her heart. In yielding to him she felt that she would be yielding to those dangerous guides, the feelings. But if this practical, unsentimental man thought she ought to go, that was a different matter. She laid her hand on his arm, and looked at him with her dark, appealing eyes.
“Tell me,” she said, “do you think I ought to go?”
The appeal of her tone was as great as the appeal of her glance; and the simplicity of her words touched the man whom she addressed more than anything impassioned could have done.
“My dear,” he said, kindly, “I think that, if you are determined to marry this gentleman, the wisest thing you can do is to leave your family at once, for it will come to that at last; and there is not only no good in deferring an evil day, but at another time you might not be able to command the protection which I am happy to offer you now.”
“Just what I have told her,” cried Fanny.—“Now, Aimée, will you consent to go?”
Aimée’s glance passed wistfully from one to the other, and rested on Lennox. “Yes,” she said at length, “I will go.”